Shipping container



1964 LE ROY v. RUDOFSKI 3,162,351

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed May 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 ll JIFZOQ.

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[(1% glam ATTORNEYS Dec. 22, 1964 LE ROY v. RUDOFSKI 3,162,351

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed May 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i i 20 is H R r l l d l 24- 24- 25 k INVENTOR.

LEROY V. RUDOFSKI FIG. 2 BY .q -zwaz flfl eJuJ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,162,351 stirrer-"into coNaArNnn This invention relates to a paperboard shipping container, and more particularly to a paperboard shipping container having integral corner posts.

This invention is directed primarily to the provision of a paperboard shipping container having integral corner posts or columns for providing stacking strength. The integral columns of this container are simple and easy to erect, and means are provided for maintaining them in their proper assembled positions. The container of this invention is also formed from a minimum amount of paperboard.

The container of this invention is especially suitable for use as an outer container or cover for a liquid filled plastic bag, the combination being referred to as a bag-in-abox package. Packages of this type are often stacked to considerable heights under humid conditions which necessitate high stacking strength requirements.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, the preferred embodiments of this invention.

On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the blank used to form the container of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the integral corner column of the container; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

The container of this invention is preferably formed of a foldable sheet-like material, such as corrugated paperboard. It is to be understood that other foldable sheet-like materials may be used.

Referring to FIG. 2, the container of this invention is erected from a blank B which is a sheet of foldable sheetlike material, such as corrugated paperboard, which has been scored and slit to form a series of foldably connected panels. The blank B includes a bottom panel 10. A side panel 11 is foldably connected to the bottom panel 19 along score line 13. A top panel 1 .2 is foldably connected to the side wall 11 along the score line 14. A second side panel is foldabiy connected to the top panel 13 along a score line 15. Closure panels 1! are foldably secured to the end edges of the top and bottom panels along score lines in. Each of the closure panels has a Width which is approximately one-half the width of the side wall panels. Corner flaps 26 are foldably attached to the end edges of the side wall panels along score lines 21. Each of the corner panels 20 is divided into three sections by transverse score lines 22. The center section 20a as defined by the score lines 22 is slightly extended at either end beyond the remainder of the sections.

A crushed area 24 is located at each corner of the top and bottom panels 13 and 10, respectively. The crushed area 24 is formed by providing a slit 25 crushing the area immediately adjacent thereto. See 1 16.4. When using corrugated paperboard, which is the preferred material, the slit 25 extends through the upper liner 26 and the crushing collapses the corrugated medium.

In the assembly of the container of this invention, a length of tape T is used to foldably secure the bottom panel it to the side panel 15 to thereby form an open ended tubular configuration. The corner panels are folded about score lines 21 and 22 into corner columns or posts having triangle configurations. The ends of the center section 2 19a are pushed into their depressed areas 25 to thereby securely hold the corner posts in position. See FIG. 4. The container is then ready for loading. After the desired product has been placed within the container, the closure flaps are closed in the conventional manner and sealed with a length of tape (not shown).

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be modified through a wide range Without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is not, therefore, the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shipping container formed of compressible sheet like material comprising an opposed pair of side wall panels and an opposed pair of top and bottom panels foldably connected together to define an open ended tubular configuration,

means for closing the ends of said tubular configuration,

corner flaps foldably attached to the end edges of said side wall panels, said corner fiaps transversely scored and folded to form columns having a triangular cross-section, and

depressed areas adjacent the corners in the top and bottom panels adjacent each end of said columns When in an erected position,

said corner flaps having end portions thereof extending into said depressed areas at said corners to maintain said corner flaps in said columnar positions. 2. A shipping container formed of compressible sheetlike material comprising an opposed pair or" side wall panels and an opposed pair of top and bottom panels foldably connected together to define an open ended tubular configuration,

end closure flaps foldably connected to the end edges of said top and bottom panels and arranged to close the open ends of said tubular configuration,

corner flaps foldably attached to the end edges of each of said side wall panels,

said corner flaps arranged interiorly of said closure said corner flaps folded to form columns extending from said bottom panel to said top panel, and

means for maintaining said corner flaps in said columnar position, said means comprising a depressed area formed in each corner of the panel adjacent one end of each of said columns, said depressed areas bein adapted to receive an end portion of each said corner flaps to maintain them securely in said columnar positions.

3. A shipping container as described in claim 2,

wherein said container is formed of corrugated paperboard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A SHIPPING CONTAINER FORMED OF COMPRESSIBLE SHEETLIKE MATERIAL COMPRISING AN OPPOSED PAIR OF SIDE WALL PANELS AND AN OPPOSED PAIR OF TOP AND BOTTOM PANELS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TOGETHER TO DEFINE AN OPEN ENDED TUBULAR CONFIGURATION, MEANS FOR CLOSING THE ENDS OF SAID TUBULAR CONFIGURATION CORNER FLAPS FOLDABLY ATTACHED TO THE END EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALL PANELS, SAID CORNER FLAPS TRANSVERSELY SCORED AND FOLDED TO FORM COLUMNS HAVING A TRIANGULAR CROSS-SECTION, AND DEPRESSED AREAS ADJACENT THE CORNERS IN THE TOP AND BOTTOM PANELS ADJACENT EACH END OF SAID COLUMNS WHEN IN AN ERECTED POSITION, SAID CORNER FLAPS HAVING END PORTIONS THEREOF EXTENDING INTO SAID DEPRESSED AREAS AT SAID CORNERS TO MAINTAIN SAID CORNER FLAPS IN SAID COLUMNAR POSITIONS. 